Seminole Tribe settles Class III gaming dispute with state of Florida

Thursday, July 6, 2017

The Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida have agreed to end their Class III gaming compact dispute.

The tribe will continue to offer blackjack and other card games through 2030. In exchange, the state will enforce an exclusivity provision by stopping non-Indian facilities from offering similar card games.

As a result, the tribe has agreed to restore revenue sharing payments to the state. According to news reports, the state will get $220 million that was being held in escrow. Another $120 million is expected in the coming year.

“There’s no loser to this,” tribal attorney Barry Richard told The Orlando Sentinel. “It gives the tribe finality and the security of knowing the games will continue. The state will continue to get a few hundred million.”

The tribe had won the right to continue offering blackjack and card games as part of a lawsuit in federal court. A judge confirmed that the state violated the exclusivity provisions of the compact.

The tribe has been in talks with the state to update the compact but lawmakers have refused to ratify a new agreement.

Read More on the Story:
Florida and Seminoles settle blackjack dispute (The Orlando Sentinel 7/5)
Florida hits $340 million jackpot by settling gambling dispute with Seminole Tribe (The Miami Herald 7/5)
Florida and Seminole Tribe settle blackjack dispute (AP 7/5)
Seminole Tribe settles blackjack dispute with Florida (Gambling Insider 7/6)